Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Your First Amendment Rights Can Be "Terminated"

I have noticed this being an issue for the last few years. To me the 1st Amendment is only subordinate in importance of the 2nd Amendment. Information is one of the most power tools citizens have to shape their government and their lives.

Being a former LEO, I am an ardent supporter of law enforcement. However most of the incidents involving arresting people for recording or photographing police officers, or even confiscating their equipment, I can see no justification for the officers actions.

Most agencies and officers in Kentucky know the law, and we have only had a few problems with seizing equipment or arresting journalist or citizen journalist. But we do have a problem with government officials trying to keep records and information secret.

Wow! What is going to be needed to stop this? Court after court have ruled these arrests violations of the right of the press. The right of the press doesn't even refer to just those employed by a news agency. It's anyone wishing to observe and record events for the purpose of informing the public, so long as they're not violating anyone's right while doing it.

Those doing it are going to have to pay a high price for doing so. Personally, I think every LEO should be trained on the issue. Then the next time they arrest someone for taking video or pictures, knowing they have no right to make an arrest, there are very serious consequences for doing so.

there are always going to be stupid cops trying to cover their asses, but the law is extremely clear on this. every time a case comes up the citizen wins and the cop loses......need some disincentives, like firing, to get through to some, apparently.

Yeah, some people just never got the memo, so they need to get the message some other way. Ever notice it happens mostly with big city PDs? I wonder what their in-service training is like.

I get the point of the video, but why are all the Cops wearing bullet resistant vests? Chitcago doesn't allow guns and bullets, correct?

Gunner

This is going to turn into a chit storm before this is over.

Wouldn't this cop be found liable in a law suit under US Code - Section 1983: Civil action for deprivation of rights?

Dad was on the force when I was a kid.
He said all while I was growing up the only things keeping this a free country and keeping gov from becoming complete tyrants are first and second amendments and our determination to keep them. If they are lost there will be war.

I've watched them erode all my life.
And most people join right up as if it's for their own good, like concealed carry permits for instance. (permit means permission, like a little kid "can I have a piece of candy?")

The second amendment is our concealed carry permit.
People forgot the importance of "nip it in the bud".

Very true. Instead of "shall issue," our fight should have been for "Constitutional Carry" from the start.

If people allow things go too far the only way to return America to her original upright position, short of all out war against the government (ie, kill them all) will be to remove authorities that have been afforded them.

You can bet your bottom dollar police officers (and all government employees) who are disallowed use and ownership of firearms while in service of the people would be polite police officers.

Turn all the cameras on them.
Turn all the guns on them.
Yank the slack out of them mighty quick and once again have public servants rather than rulers.

Rulers rule. Servants serve.
It's really not difficult to understand.

"Chicago police officer" that tells me all I need to know. If I was going to pick a place to show typical LEO's, that would be the last place on my list. What we see doesn't say so much about the LEO's in the video as it does about their leadership.

As a former Peace Officer with most of my family still involved I say the us of cameras by all folks are a good thing, keeps the marginal honest and the honest & righteous don't mind a bit.

Lots of folks really miss your type of honesty and character, sir.

1+

I still see it in most all of the LEO's I have come into contact with. I can only think of one that would fit right in with the bunch in the video.

Make no mistake, this happens in all 50 states. It is just way more prevalent in places like Chicago and New England.

I don't know why any LEO would object to being filmed, after all if they have nothing to hide, why don't they just submit? Similar to when they want to search something without a warrant.

<SARCASM>

I think a lot of it is a power issue.

there is the twisted Paulist though process at its essence....instead of two thirds of the states now having shall issue CCW, the Paulie steering committee would have wasted its time on "constitutional carry" and accomplished zero.